We Might All Be Doomed to Have Acne for the Rest of Our Lives

If your longest-standing relationship is with your oral acne antibiotic, you might want to sit down for this. New research from the doctors at the British Association of Dermatology suggests that, rather than clearing up your breakouts, taking meds like doxycycline and clindamycin for longer than six months could leave you with acne for LIFE.

In their review of 928 patients, they found that users popped pills for an average of about six and a half months (the longest topped out at almost seven years). But the recommended timeframe for these medications is just four to six months. Researchers fear that taking the pills for longer than that could lead to the rise of antibiotic-resistant acne (also known as Propionibacterium) and also decrease our ability to fight-off non-acne bacteria as well.

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So what does all of this mean for our day-to-day? Basically, we might be creating a situation in which acne becomes more difficult to treat. Plus, in a press release issued by the British Association of Dermatology, study author Heather Whitehouse, M.D., points out that many derms are prescribing oral antibiotics as a sole form of treatment, even though they don't effectively address all aspects of acne. And all that might make people immune to these types of acne treatments in the future.

If you’re looking for a more conventional method, reach for products with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid in your face cleanser. Plus, remember to read labels to find oil-free and non-comedogenic moisturizers that won’t screw with your skin. And above all, make your long-term relationship one with a dermatologist who can help you come up with a routine that works for you.

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